Telephone system using one or several micro-computers

ABSTRACT

The telephone system of the invention combines at least one telephone terminal ( 40  to  43 ) and one microcomputer ( 38  to  40 ) using a set of software modules, especially a module for functions normally carried out by top range telephone stations: free hand functions, recorder telephone answering sets, fax/modems, storage of numbers, automatic dialling, display on the screen of a microcomputer, and/or a module for services normally centralised for a large number of users, and/or a module concerning new functionalities: Internet/Intranet access, vocal recognition, automatic reading, small capacity unit automatic exchanges.  
     In the case of network-mounted microcomputers, the invention is able to carry out a distributed unit automatic exchange.

[0001] The present invention concerns a telephone system combining atleast one telephone terminal, a microcomputer and a set of softwaremodules installed in the microcomputer.

[0002] Generally speaking, a system of this type has already beenproposed introducing a top range telephone terminal equipped withmicroprocessors and having a large number of functionalities adapted tothe telephone function, including the fax function and the transmissionof data function (modem). This terminal is connected to an officemicrocomputer which for the most part only carries out the role of aninput/output terminal and includes software and the fax/modem circuitsnormally linked to a modem box. Thus, the price of the telephoneterminal is naturally relatively high.

[0003] There is also a telephone system constructed around an Ethernetnetwork to which a specific server is connected, as well as possibleplatforms to the switched telephone network or long-distance IP networks(Internet, Intranet) and also telephone stations. These telephonestations are directly connected to the Ethernet cable. The unit thenfunctions as a unit automatic exchange (PABX).

[0004] It has been proved that this concept eliminates from the marketall those entities or persons having microcomputers not connected ontothe local network which covers almost all individuals and extremelysmall concerns, that is most of potential buyers.

[0005] In addition, the Ethernet connection significantly increases thecost of the telephone station as long as a specific server is used forexecution of the telephone programmes.

[0006] Thus, the aim of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks.

[0007] It starts by sating that the arrival of the high-speed bus, forexample the USB standard equipment bus, procures an economic means ofcommunication whose performances are compatible with the calculationpower of the processor.

[0008] Thus, it offers a telephonic system characterised in that itutilizes, on the one hand, an “USB” telephone terminal reduced to itsminimal functions of telephone interfaces to emit and receive phonecalls even in the event of interruptions of current, this telephoneterminal being connected to a micro computer by the intermediary of abus, for example of type USB and, in addition, a set of software modulesinstalled in the microcomputer, comprising at least:

[0009] a software module concerning of functions up to now specificallyinstalled in top-of-the-range telephones, in particular a telephonefunction free hands using a microphone and loudspeakers connected to themicrocomputer, an automatic message recorder function, a modem-faxfunction, a memory function of numbers and automatic dialling, afunction of displaying on the screen of the microcomputer and/or a broadband telephony function for example 7 Khz if the totality of thecommunication is carried out by numerical way

[0010] and/or a software module concerning of the services usuallycentralised in expensive systems planned for a great number of users inparticular written messaging function and/or vocal messaging functionand/or fax function and/or taxation function,

[0011] and/or a software module concerning of the new functionalities orusually making the object of specific systems, in particular telephonyon Internet/Intranet networks, the release of macro-instruction on therecognition of caller, the voice recognition, the automatic reading, thetelephone data management (in particular directory) and/or the automaticswitchboard of small capacity function (for example 2 lines, 6 stations)if several telephone terminals are connected on same USB bus.

[0012] Similarly, the link between the controller and the microcomputercould include at least three channels, namely one channel fortransferring data between the microcomputer and a telephone terminal andat least two audio channels respectively allocated to the link betweenthe microcomputer and a telephone line and to the link between themicrocomputer and a telephone receiver.

[0013] According to the invention, one important advantage of thesolution consists of the fact that the software modules could include a“unit automatic exchange” (PABX) function. This function is particularlyadvantageous for a network assembly of a plurality of microcomputers.

[0014] In fact, it makes it possible to avoid having two separatenetworks, namely one for the telephone (this network being controlled bya unit automatic exchange) and the other for the computer system(possibly including a server): only the computer network suffices.

[0015] This results in obtaining significant savings as regards theequipment and the laying of the network.

[0016] In addition, the system of the invention could use a router toprovide telephone communications via the IP network (Internet orIntranet).

[0017] There follow description of several embodiments of the invention,given by way of non-restrictive examples, with reference to theaccompanying drawings on which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a skeleton diagram of a telephone terminal according tothe invention and able to be connected to an analog line (full lines) orto a digital line (broken lines);

[0019]FIG. 2 is a skeleton diagram of a simplified terminal;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a synoptic diagram of the main software modules able toequip the microcomputer to which the terminals of the invention areconnected;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a configurationintroducing a microcomputer and several terminals according to theinvention;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a configurationintroducing several network-assembled microcomputers;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a physical configuration of adistributed unit automatic exchange able to be used in the network ofFIG. 5;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the softwaresegment of a microcomputer used for administrating a network;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a synoptic diagram of the software modules ofmicrocomputers intended for users in the assembly of the network shownon FIG. 5.

[0026] In the example shown on FIG. 1, the terminal of the inventionincludes three sub-units, namely:

[0027] a “USB bus controller” sub-unit associated with a microcontroller1,

[0028] a “line” sub-unit including interface circuits 2, 3 with theanalog telephone line LTA (impedance adapter and 2/4 wire converter) anda digital/analog converter 4,

[0029] a “station” sub-unit including the combined interface circuits(digital/analog converter 5 and adapter 6) and dialling keypadassociated with a display unit 7.

[0030] The “line” and “station” sub-units are connected to anaddresses/data/audio bus of the USB bus controller 1 by means of theirrespective digital/analog converters 4, 5. Nevertheless, they arefunctionally independent and could be separated physically. It ispreferably solely for reasons of economy and convenience that they beinstalled in a given block.

[0031] In this example, the “line” sub-unit further includes an adapterSo 9 providing a digital link between the bus 8 and a servicesintegration digital telecommunications network (RNIS), for example, onthe bus So (4 wires) of this network. Of course, this digital link(shown by the broken lines) can be provided as a complement to orreplacement for the analog line 2, 3, 4, LTA.

[0032] In the absence of any connection to a microcomputer, thetelephone terminal (1 to 9) is fed by a telephone line LTA and is ableto send and receive calls, like any conventional basic telephonestation.

[0033] In this example, the link between the controller 1 and themicrocomputer PC 10 includes four channels, namely: one channel A forthe transfer of data between the microcomputer 10 and the telephoneterminal 1 to 9; three audio channels B, C, D with B and C beingallocated to the microcomputer/telephone link, and a channel D allocatedto the receiver link/microcomputer/telephone receiver 6′.

[0034] The telephone terminal shown on FIG. 2 is a simplified version ofthe terminal of FIG. 1 in which the “line” sub-unit is not installed.This terminal is suitable in a case where it is connected to a bus or anetwork to which several terminals are connected, at least one of saidterminals being of the type shown on FIG. 1 and including a “line”sub-unit. In fact, in this case, it is not necessary to have the samenumber of lines as telephone stations. The link between the controller 1and the microcomputer 10 no longer includes more than two channels,namely the channels A and C.

[0035] Of course, the microcomputer 10 ought to include functionalprogrammes able to ensure the management of the telephone terminals,especially as regards the internal communications (between the terminalsthemselves via the microcomputer 10) and external communications(between the terminals 1 to 9 and the telephone line(s) LTA, So). Thus,these functional programmes could include the following modules showndiagrammatically on FIG. 3:

[0036] USB exchange module 21 between the microcomputer 10 and thetelephone terminal 1 to 9;

[0037] Audio receiving and transmission modules 18, 19 at 64 kb/s or at128 kb/s;

[0038] Switching module 20 at 64 kb/s or 128 kb/s;

[0039] Interface module 17 with the microphone and loud-speakers of themicrocomputer. This module includes sound compression and samplingprogrammes 22 with a 7 kHz band width able to be used for end-to-enddigital communications;

[0040] Voice compression and decompression modules 23′, 29;

[0041] IP Encapsulation and de-encapsulation modules (Internet,Intranet) 27, 30;

[0042] IP switching module (Internet, Intranet) 28;

[0043] Data modulation and demodulation modules 25, 22;

[0044] Audio file management module 26;

[0045] Data file management module 23;

[0046] Module 24 for converting data files into fax format;

[0047] RHM man/machine relation and management modules for the variousfunctions 12 to 16;

[0048] General manager programme 11.

[0049] More specifically, on FIG. 3 the block 11 represents the generalmanager programme to which the various modules can be connected, namely:a recorder/answerer management module 12, a fax management module 13, amodule 14 for managing switchings for transmissions at 64 kb/s, a module15 for managing communications for communications on IP networks(Intranet/Internet) and an RHM and management module 16 for the otherfunctions.

[0050] In this example, the microphone/loud-speaker interface 17 isconnected to transmission 18 and receiving 19 modules which control a 64kb/s switching module 20.

[0051] The audio receiving unit 19 receives information from the USBexchange module 21 which directly manages the exchanges with the USB busof the microcomputer 10.

[0052] The audio receiving unit 19 sends its information to ademodulation module 22 and to a compression module 23′.

[0053] The demodulation module 22 transmits the demodulated informationto a file management module 23 and/or to a fax conversion module 24,these two modules being connected to the audio transmission unit 18 bymeans of a modulation module 25.

[0054] The compression module firstly transmits the compressedinformation to an audio file management module 26 and secondly to a unitsuccessively including an IP encapsulation module 27 and an IP switchingmodule 28 connected bidirectionally to the LAN local network.

[0055] The IP switching module 28 in addition transmits information to adecompression module 29 (which also receives information from the audiofile module 26) via an IP de-encapsulation module 30.

[0056] The audio transmission module 18 receives the decompressedinformation originating from the decompression module 29 as well asinformation originating from the modulation module 25.

[0057] Of course, in the case of independent users, the installationcould be limited to a single USB telephone terminal connected on amicrocomputer, also able to be used for communications: data a fax,receiving and sending. The user could benefit as desired from all orpart of the previously described functional modules.

[0058] In the case of extremely small concerns, the representativeequipment could be constituted by a microcomputer 10, mainly used by thesecretary, with one or two digital or analog telephone lines (here LT₁,LT₂) and several telephone terminals (FIG. 4).

[0059] All the terminals TTUA, TTUB, TTUC, two of which only, TTUA,TTUB, are equipped with a telephone line (LT₁, LT₂), are connected onthe USB bus of the microcomputer 10.

[0060] The microcomputer 10 then plays the role of a small-capacity unitautomatic exchange, said capacity in this example being fixed at twolines and three terminals, two of the terminals TTUA and TTUB beingequipped with a telephone line (LT₁, LT₂).

[0061] The basic functioning of this small-capacity unit automaticexchange shall be explained hereafter:

[0062] 1) One of the terminals (for example the terminal TTUA) wishes toestablish a sending communication. On dialling the external call prefix,it asks the microcomputer 10 for a line, said microcomputer answeringnegatively if the two lines LT₁, LT₂ are occupied. If this is not thecase, the microcomputer 10 establishes the audio connection between afree line and the corresponding terminal via its switching module. Itthen orders unhooking up of the selected line. The terminal TTUA canthen dial.

[0063] 2) An external call arrives picked up by one of the terminals,for example the terminal TTUA, is for another terminal, for example theterminal TTUB. Here, a case is considered in which the bell sets of theset of free terminals are activated upon detection of ringing on a line.The first terminal which unhooks takes the call. After being advised ofthe communication, the user of the terminal TTUA dials the number of theterminal TTUB. On unhooking of the latter and after hanging up of theterminal TTUA, the connection is established by the microcomputer 10.

[0064] 3) The TTUC terminal (with no line) wishes to establish aninitial communication:

[0065] This case is similar to case n° 1.

[0066] 4) The TTUC terminal wishes to establish a local communicationwith the TTUB terminal. The user of the TTUC terminal dials the numberof the TTUB terminal. On unhooking of the latter, the connection isestablished by the microcomputer 10.

[0067] With three terminals, the microcomputer is this able at the mostto have to switch three telephone communications (two externalcommunications and one local communication).

[0068] It is frequently the case that in small companies, a LAN localnetwork connects the various microcomputers PC₁ to PC₃ of the concernand, in certain cases, a router RO offers specific access to theInternet (FIG. 5). Each working station (microcomputers PC₁ to PC₃) canbe equipped with one or several telephone terminals TTU1 to TTU3, eachpossibly being provided with access to the switched telephone networkRTC (analog or digital telephone lines LT₁, LT₂).

[0069] The communications between different working stations is theneffected through the LAN local network exactly as they were effectedthrough the USB bus in the case of extremely small concerns. However,switching is carried out under the IP protocol (Internet/Intranet).

[0070] Large concerns often have several local networks, each beingallocated to one service. Thus, each defined entity can be equipped inthe same way as a small concern of the type previously mentioned, thetelephone lines RTC being able to be connected to the equipment ofstations of the unit automatic exchange of the concern. As most of thetelephone communications are basically internal to the service, the USBterminals equipment is able to effect significant savings concerning thesize of the switch of the concern. It is also possible to providecertain stations with a direct telephone line RTC, the unit automaticexchange then no longer being used for inter-service communications.

[0071] With the size of the concern, the possibilities of vocalmessaging become important. In fact, this service is currently for themost part installed and a significant source of costs including theequipment of USB telephones allows savings to be made.

[0072] As previously mentioned, the invention permits the embodiment ofa unit automatic exchange distributed over a microcomputer-based localnetwork having USB telephone terminals, such as the one illustrated onFIG. 6.

[0073] In this example, this unit automatic exchange introduces eightUSB telephone terminals 30 to 37, only three of the latter having atelephone line 40 to 43.

[0074] The PC type microcomputers 30 to 40 amount to three and areinterconnected by an Ethernet link under TCP/IP 44. Each microcomputerPC₁ 30 to 40 has one USB port and an Ethernet card. Three RTC telephonelines 41, 42, 43 are respectively connected to the terminals 30, 31, 33.Each USB telephone terminal 30 to 37 is connected to a microcomputer 38,39, 40 by means of a USB link and possibly to an RTC telephone line.

[0075] The software of the system for evaluating the distributed unitautomatic exchange is broken down into modules and sub-modules. In theexample shown on FIG. 8, it is broken down into eleven modules:

[0076] 1) “USB Exchanges” Module (ECU)

[0077] This module is used to identify and format the messagescirculating on the USB bus. It analyses the header of each message so asto route the data. It also carries out a translation of the physicaladdress of the USB telephone terminal into its logic address. Itincludes three sub-modules:

[0078] the “station” sub-module which transmits and receives theinformation coming from the “station” sub-module of the “signalling”module,

[0079] the “line” sub-module which transmits and receives theinformation coming from the “line” sub-module of the “signalling”module,

[0080] the “audio” sub-module which manages the transmission andreceiving of word samples between the USB telephone terminal and the PC.

[0081] 2) “Signalling” Module (SIG)

[0082] This module manages the telephone signalling of the USB telephoneterminal. It includes two sub-modules:

[0083] the “station” sub-module which analyses and processes the eventscoming from the “station” sub-module of the “USB exchange” module so asto transmit them to the “call processing” module. The “call processing”module sends back to it the actions to be carried out according to thestate of the communication,

[0084] the “line” sub-module which analyses and processes the eventscoming from the “line” sub-module of the “USB exchange” module so as totransmit them to the “call processing” module. The “call processing”module sends back to it the actions to be carried out according to thestate of the line.

[0085] 3) “Call Processing” Module (TAP)

[0086] This module is a coordinator module and its role is to manoeuvrethe condition of the communications. It knows the state of the USBtelephone terminals it manages.

[0087] This module communicates with the various “call processing”modules of the other PCs of the network so as to know the state of thevarious USB telephone terminals. Thus, it is able to select a free RTCline during an outgoing call.

[0088] It also informs the various “call processing” modules of thestate of the USB telephone terminals it manages.

[0089] This “call processing” module interrogates the “routing” moduleso as to know the actions to be taken according to the event and thestate of the communication. Thus, it generates a list of actions.

[0090] The “call processing” module sends alarm messages (coming fromthe “maintenance” and “audio” modules) to the “administrator” PC bymeans of the TCP/IP link.

[0091] 4) “Routing” Module (ACH)

[0092] This module is a data module. It contains information on thetelephone terminals of the system (for example the telephone terminalwith call restriction or telephone terminal with call on unhooking). Italso contains the actions to be taken according to the telephoneterminal in question, events and the state of the line. It includes thedialling plan.

[0093] 5) “Switching” Module (COM)

[0094] This module carries out and cuts the audio communications insidethe PC microcomputer according to the directives of the call processing.

[0095] 6) “Telephone Operational” Module (SOT) (Not Shown)

[0096] This module coordinates the telephone modules inside a given PC.It manages delay times and launches each software module with therequired recurrence.

[0097] 7) “Maintenance” Module (MNT)

[0098] This module regularly interrogates the various modules havingphysical interfaces. These interfaces carry out the controls asked forand sends a report. Should a problem occur, it sends an alarm message tothe administration module.

[0099] 8) “Audit” Module (AUD)

[0100] This module checks the coherence of the telephone data. Should aproblem occur, it sends an alarm message to the administration module.

[0101] 9) “Measuring” Module (MES)

[0102] This module files all the traffic data concerning the telephoneterminals connected to the USB bus of the PC. When requested by theadministration module, it processes this data.

[0103] 10) “User Interface” Module (IUH)

[0104] This module makes it possible to roughly display the state of thecommunications.

[0105] 11) “Administrator Interface” Module (IAD)

[0106] This module, solely present in the administration machine, isable to configure the distributed unit automatic exchange.

[0107] Each “user” PC of the network is equipped with all the modules,except for the “administrator interface” module. This module, which isshown on FIG. 7, is solely present on the “administrator” PC of thenetwork as a complement to the other software modules of user PCs (PCUblock) which communicates with one another via the USB bus and TCP/IPInternet/Intranet links.

[0108] The distributed unit automatic exchange is able to:

[0109] Route an incoming call onto the first USB telephone terminal froma previously defined list of telephone terminals. This list contains allthe telephone terminals of the network. If the first telephone terminalis occupied, the incoming call is then directed towards the secondtelephone terminal of the list, and so on until the last terminal of thelist.

[0110] Pass a communication toward the outside world, a free RTC linethen being selected,

[0111] Establish a local communication between two USB telephoneterminals on the same USB bus or by the use of the Ethernet link underTCP/IP,

[0112] Carry out a transfer of a communication of a USB telephoneterminal to another USB telephone terminal.

[0113] These various functionalities are processed by a software in thecomputer and can be made simultaneously and independently.

[0114] At the current moment, the flowrate of a USB bus reaches 12 Mo/s,which is for the most part greater than the maximum flowrate of atelephone conversation (at least 128 kbits/s).

[0115] In addition to useful information, the information on the USB buscontains:

[0116] a synchronisation frame,

[0117] a message header,

[0118] an error control.

[0119] Voice compression inside the PC makes it possible to obtain aband width of at least 128 kbits/s.

1. Telephone system effecting cooperation between at least one telephoneterminal of a first type (TTUA), a microcomputer (10) and a set ofsoftware modules implemented in the microcomputer (10), said telephoneterminal (TTUA) being reduced to its minimal functions in order to sendand receive telephone calls and being connected to the microcomputer(10) by means of a high-flow bus, said set of software modulescomprising: a software module pertaining to functions hithertospecifically implemented in top-range telephone sets, and/or a softwaremodule relating to services usually centralized in systems designed fora large number of users, especially written and/or voice and/or faxmessaging functions and/or a fee-charging function and/or a softwaremodule relating to new functions or functions usually covered byspecific systems such as Internet/Intranet telephony, the activation ofmacro-instructions upon caller recognition, the small-capacity unitautomatic exchange function if several telephone terminals (TTUA) areconnected to the same USB bus, characterized in that the link betweenthe terminal (TTUA) and the microcomputer (10) comprises at least threechannels, namely: a channel (A) to transfer data between themicrocomputer (10) and the telephone terminal (1 to 9) and at least twoaudio channels (C and D) respectively assigned to the link between themicrocomputer (10) and the line (LTA) and the link between themicrocomputer (10) and the telephone handset (6′).
 2. System accordingto claim 1, characterized in that said terminal (TTUA) is designed so asto send and receive telephone calls, even in cases where the current iscut off.
 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that saidtelephone terminal (TTUA) comprises three sub-units, namely: a “USB buscontroller” sub-unit associated with a microcontroller (7), a “line”sub-unit comprising interface circuits (2, 3, 4) with the telephone line(LTA), a “station” sub-unit including the handset interface circuits (5,6) and dialing keypad (7).
 4. System according to claim 3, characterizedin that the “line” and “station” sub-units are connected to anaddress/data/audio bus (8) of the USB bus controller (1) by means ofrespective digital/analog converters (4, 5).
 5. System according to oneof the claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the “line” sub-unitcomprises interface circuits with a telephone line, namely adigital/analog converter in the case of an analog telephone line (LTA)and/or an adapter designed to set up a digital link between the bus (8)and an integrated services digital telecommunications network (bus So).6. System according to any of the above claims, characterized in that itfurthermore comprises at least one simplified telephone terminal of atype similar to that of said first type but in which the “line” sub-unitis not implemented, this simplified terminal being connected to the busor to the network to which the terminal of said first type is connected.7. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises amicrocomputer (10) that can be used by a user, at least one telephoneline (LT₁, LT₂) and several telephone terminals (TTUA, TTUB, TTUC)connected to the USB bus of the microcomputer (10), one of which isconnected to said line, and in that said microcomputer (10) isprogrammed so as to play the role of a small-capacity unit automaticexchange whose capacity is equal to the number of telephone terminals,and to perform the following sequences of operations: should a firstterminal (TTUA) wish to set up an outgoing communication, then, ondialing the external call prefix, it asks the microcomputer (10) for aline, said microcomputer answering negatively if the two lines (LT₁,LT₂), and possibly the other lines, are busy; if this is not the case,the microcomputer (10) sets up an audio connection between a free line,for example (LT₂), and the terminal (TTUA) via its switching module; itthen orders the unhooking of the selected line so that said firstterminal (TTUA) can dial; should an incoming external call taken by thefirst terminal (TTUA) be intended for another terminal (TTUB), after thecommunication has been put on hold, the user of the terminal who hadunhooked the line dials the recipient's number; on the unhooking of therecipient terminal and after the first terminal (TTUA) has hung up, theconnection is set up by the microcomputer (10).
 8. System according toclaim 7 characterized in that said microcomputer (10) is programmed toset up local communications between said terminals (TTUA, TTUB, TTUC).9. System according to claim 1, used in a local area network comprisinga plurality of microcomputers (36, 39, 40) associated with telephoneterminals (30 to 37) of the above-mentioned type and comprising anEthernet card, characterized in that said microcomputers (38 to 40) areprogrammed so as to constitute a distributed unit automatic exchange,the software of this unit automatic exchange being present in all themicrocomputers and including at least the following modules: a “USBexchanges” module entrusted with identifying and formatting the messagescirculating on the USB bus, analyzing the header of each message so asto route the data, a “signaling” module which manages the telephonesignaling of the USB telephone terminal, a “call processing” modulewhich communicates with the various call processing modules of the othermicrocomputers of the network so as to know the state of the various USBtelephone terminals and be able to select a free RTC line at the time ofan outgoing call, a “routing” module containing information on thetelephone terminals of the system concerning the actions to be takenaccording to the telephone terminal in question, events and the state ofthe line, and information on the numbering plan, a “switching” modulewhich effects and cuts off the audio connections inside themicrocomputer, a “telephone operational system” (SOT) module whichcoordinates the telephone modules inside a same microcomputer, managesthe time lags and launches each software module with the necessaryrecurrence.
 10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that thesoftware of the above-mentioned distributed unit automatic exchangepresent in all the microcomputers further includes: a “maintenance”module (MNT) which regularly interrogates the various modules havinghardware interfaces which carry out the controls asked for and send backa report and possibly, in the event of a problem, an alarm messageintended for an administration module, and/or an “audit” module (AUD)which checks the consistency of the telephone data and, in the event ofa problem, sends an alarm message to the administration module, and/or a“measuring” module (MES) which files all the data of the trafficconcerning the telephone terminals connected to the bus of themicrocomputer, this module processing this data on request, and/or a“user interface” module (IUT) enabling a display, in an elementary way,of the state of the communications.
 11. System according to one of theclaims 9 and 10, introducing several microcomputers assembled in anetwork including an administration machine, characterized in that thisadministration machine includes an “administrator interface” softwaremodule (IAD) complementing the other software modules of themicrocomputers of the network which communicate with one another viasaid bus and Internet/Intranet (TCP/IP) links.
 12. System according toclaim 9, characterized in that the programming of said microcomputers(38 to 40) is designed so as to: route an incoming call to a first USBtelephone terminal of a list of telephone terminals containing all thetelephone terminals (30 to 37) of the network, and if this firstterminal is occupied, to direct the incoming call towards a secondtelephone terminal on the list, and so on up to the last terminal of thelist; select a free telephone line (41 to 43) so as to pass a telephonecommunication outwards, set up a local communication between two USBtelephone terminals on the same USB bus or through the use of anEthernet link using TCP/IP, transfer a USB telephone communication toanother USB telephone terminal.
 13. System according to claim 1,characterized in that said set of software modules includes a basicsub-unit provided with the terminal and sub-units specific to the users'needs.